New York Times Co. Technology Workers Plan Strike Over Office Reopening Dispute
In a move to protest against what they perceive as a lack of good faith negotiations, technology workers at the New York Times Co. have announced a half-day strike scheduled for Monday afternoon. The employees, who consist of software engineers and product managers, voted overwhelmingly in favor of unionizing with the NewsGuild last year, joining a larger trend of organization within the US technology and media sectors.
The strike, organized by the New York Times Tech Guild, will commence at 1 p.m., with demonstrations taking place both on Zoom and in-person outside the company’s Manhattan headquarters. Some striking employees plan to don Halloween costumes as part of their protest. According to the union, the vast majority of the nearly 700 tech guild employees have pledged their participation in the strike.
The dispute stems from the protracted contract talks between the workers and Times management, which have been ongoing for 15 months. Workers claim that the company has been stalling negotiations while attempting to restrict their ability to work remotely. The US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has found that the company violated federal law by implementing a unilateral return-to-office plan without consulting the union. Kayla Blado, a spokesperson for the NLRB, disclosed that in the absence of a settlement, a complaint will be filed against the Times by a regional director of the agency.
The New York Times, however, has denied any wrongdoing. Danielle Rhoades Ha, a spokesperson for the company, stated that they have been adhering to government guidance on Covid-19 protocols and emphasized that no NLRB members or judges have ruled against their approach. Ha also pointed out that Times management has been actively engaged in regular contract talks with the guild and has offered to meet in smaller groups more frequently instead of convening with the entire membership.
Kathy Zhang, the chair of the tech guild, has accused Times management of treating the employees as if they had never unionized, by unilaterally imposing policies and issuing threats of punishment. Zhang expressed hope that the demonstration of solidarity from the striking members will make management recognize their seriousness.
The strike by the Times tech workers comes after a similar action taken in 2021, when they protested the company’s response to their organizing campaign. Last December, journalists at the Times, who have long been represented by the guild, also held a one-day work stoppage during contentious contract negotiations. A deal was reached in May, securing protections for hybrid work and banning nondisclosure agreements in cases of abuse or harassment.
Notably, the Times settled a case last year in which NLRB prosecutors accused the company of interfering with the organizing rights of its tech workers by prohibiting designated “intern managers” from expressing support for unionization.
The Communications Workers of America, the parent union of the NewsGuild, has been actively challenging corporate mandates for returning to the office at companies such as Alphabet Inc. and Grindr Inc., arguing that such measures are used to undermine union organizing efforts. The companies have refuted these allegations, and the NLRB is currently investigating the complaints. Any rulings issued by NLRB judges can be appealed to labor board members in Washington and ultimately to federal court.
It is worth noting that the New York Times Tech Guild has drawn inspiration from other workers who have undertaken strikes this year, including members of the United Auto Workers and Hollywood writers and actors.
The strike by the New York Times technology workers serves as a testament to the ongoing battle between employees and management over the future of the workplace, setting the stage for potential resolution or further escalation in the coming weeks.
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